Category: Undergraduate Students
UD’s Equestrian Team’s triumphant season blends all talent levels, excellence and national recognition
September 16, 2024 Written by Nya Wynn | Photos courtesy of Maggie Lawrence and Andrew Ryback Photography
The most recent season was a standout year for UD’s Equestrian Team. Under the leadership of Coach Whitney Carmouche, the team had one of their best seasons to date; after winning the regional championship, the team sent several riders to zones—the national qualifier —then placed 11th overall at the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) National Championship. In addition, two individuals on the team placed at the national championships: Natalia Onisko placing fifth and Maggie Lawrence placing sixth.
“This year was definitely one of our best years,” said Maggie Lawrence, senior communication major and the team’s captain. “Under Coach Whitney, we’ve never lost the regional championship.”
Although they’ve made it look effortless, it takes a lot to make it to the national competition. First they needed to make it through regionals, then qualify for nationals at the zones competition.
“We had a lot of people do phenomenally throughout the regular season,” Lucy Smith, UD Class of 2025 pre-veterinary medicine major and UD Equestrian’s president, said. “We sent eight riders as individuals to zone finals with the team, and it’s such a big accomplishment to go to zones as an individual because you have to be first or second at regionals to make it.”
Their success can be traced back to the countless hours they spend practicing, paying attention to what each individual rider needs based on their experience level, and for the healthy team environment they foster throughout the year.
“We don’t do practices by level because with our team, we accept all levels,” Lawrence said. “We have riders who have only ridden under 24 weeks. We also have riders who have ridden our whole lives so we don’t break up a practice that way.”
Instead, the team makes sure to make each practice inclusive to any rider on the team no matter their level, and structure practices around that. They understand the importance of introductory and novice levels as these riders make up a large demographic on the team.
“We have more riders at the middle to lower levels than the high levels,” Smith said. “So we place a huge emphasis on education about the sport and on the idea that you don’t have to be at the top to join our team. We really do emphasize inclusivity.”
“Every level is equally valuable,” Lawrence said. “Your introductory rider, even though they don’t have a lot of experience, is just as important as your top level rider. You need to have a solid rider in each level to be successful.”
To further encourage new riders, UD Equestrian started the Introductory Scholarship for new riders. This scholarship gives new riders a chance to try out the sport without making such a large financial commitment.
“Since it’s something so new to introductory riders, they’re not as worried about spending a lot of money on something they’re not 100 percent sure about,” Lawrence said. “So we try to help at least one rider each year financially with that.”
In addition to this scholarship, the team also offers a program where newer riders can borrow equipment. Riders in the introductory levels can get acquainted with the sport. Then the students determine if they want to continue before investing their own money into expensive show clothes and riding clothes. The team also provides boots, a helmet and show clothes for anyone in any level who needs it.
Making sure newer riders have the resources they need to compete is not only beneficial for the inexperienced riders on the team, but also for the more senior members as well.
“We've really made a point to make sure everyone is valued,” Lawerence said. “Seeing the introductory level riders come up and fall in love with the sport the same way I did, it’s very humbling and eye opening for me.”